|
|
|
Everybody associates Kashmir with carpets, but there's a whole lot besides. Depending on the liking, you can either pay as little as Rs.100 or as high as a few lakhs.
Kashmir gives exclusive variety in Kashmiri shawls and silk sari. Though they are very expensive they are worth buying. There are pure wool shawls called raffals, which have different counts of wool 40'C, 60'C, 80'C etc. The higher the count of the yarn, the finer and stronger the yarn.
|
|
The shawl is progressively
more expensive as the count increases. Shawls mixed with
other fibres like cotton and cotton derivatives are
cheaper. On the other hand, woollen shawls mixed with
pashmina will be far more expensive, which are mainly for
the export purpose. Then too, there are shawls that look
and feel like pashmina and wool that are made available
for the local people. Naturally a pure pashmina shawl will run into thousands of rupees. Depending on the count, two similar looking pashmina shawls will differ in price if they have a different count. |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Nevertheless there are the embroidered shawls where no other shawl can stand in competition. Embroidery done on the shawls is of two kinds-done with hook and the other with needle. The former is generally less expensive than the latter.
As a general rule, the better the material of the shawl, the better the embroidery. Tiniest and minute embroidery is done on the pashmina, whereas coarser work is done on the woollen with hooks. Some shawls have gold Zari embroidery work done on them in hook and are highly priced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kashmir also has extensive mulberry cultivation. Silkworms feeding on this produce silk. Kashmiri silk may be thin, but it is strong never the less, as in chiffon. Very little silk is actually woven in Kashmir. Most of silk is again exported to foreign countries. However some silk is used in making of exclusive sari. Many of which are also heavily embroidered. There is no comparison for the Kashmiri shawls and embroidered sari anywhere.
|
|
|
|
Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its handicrafts. Main shopping areas of Jammu are Vir Marg, Raghunath Bazaar and Hari Market, Government Emporium, Jammu and Kashmir Government Arts Emporium. When you go to Kashmir don't forget to shop for good shawls, saris and of course variety of handicraft items.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|